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Utah House approves 18‑week limit on elective abortion after long, divisive debate
Summary
House substitute for HB 136 would bar elective abortions after 18 weeks' gestational age with specified exceptions; the measure passed 57–15 amid extensive debate over medical evidence, constitutional risk and potential litigation. Sponsors say exceptions remain; critics cite a constitutional memo and warn of legal costs and harms to women with late‑discovered fetal anomalies.
The Utah House of Representatives approved a substitute for House Bill 136 on Feb. 25, limiting elective abortions after 18 weeks gestational age and inserting legislative findings into the House Journal, passing the main bill 57–15 and a separate motion to spread intent language 57–16.
Representative Acton, sponsor of the measure, argued the bill narrows elective abortion after the gestational threshold while preserving statutory exceptions for life of the mother, permanent impairment and fatal fetal defects. "This is a reasonable bill that preserves a woman's right to choose for any…
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